BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The Hamas government in Gaza has refused a request to hold Fatah's 48th anniversary celebrations in Gaza City's al-Katiba Square, a Fatah spokesman said Monday.

Fayez Abu Aita said Fatah "regretted" Hamas' refusal to allow the party to stage a festival in the square, which he said implied that Hamas rejected any Fatah celebrations in the Gaza Strip.

"Al-Katiba square is the only square in Gaza suitable for a big event with a large number of people, and it's the main square for national celebrations," Abu Aita said, noting that Hamas and Islamic Jihad held rallies there.

Abu Aita said the refusal was particularly disappointing given the recent positive atmosphere toward reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah.

Hamas held anniversary rallies in cities across the West Bank last week for the first time since 2007.

1 ) Rami / Philladelphia

17/12/2012 17:35

oh well.says much of the power hungry

2 ) Mitri I. Musleh / Canada

17/12/2012 18:50

In a free and democratic society, every person has the right to express his or her own opinion and no one person, agency or government body has the right to dictate otherwise. Few years ago, Hamas claimed that were elected to govern Palestine by the majority of the Palestinian people, today, this same government is preventing those same people from freely expressing their views or whether they can hold a rally or not. This is called Tyranny.

3 ) Mel / USA

18/12/2012 16:02

#2!Right!That's why Israel is FAR from being a democracy itself,LOL!And,considering the last time Fatah came to Gaza politically--after Hamas won the DEMOCRATIC popular election(&being REJECTED by USG&Israel&Fatah)leaving Fatah's Dahlan to attempt a COUP in Gaza,with Abbas saying he"would not ride into Gaza on an Israeli tank"--it isn't surprising there's factional mistrust!BUT,yes!It IS the Palestinian people OVERALL,their NATIONAL,HUMAN RIGHTS,abused for 64 yrs by extremist Israel,that counts!

4 ) gabi / Australia

19/12/2012 09:18

#3 You forget that between 1948 and 1967 the Pals in Gaza were occupied and abused by Egypt and the Egyptians.

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